Have You Visited TESOL’s Website Lately?

If you haven’t, you might be surprised at how much the website has changed. Over these past few months, TESOL staff have been hard at work writing, editing, coding, cutting, and pasting to bring TESOL members and the profession a new home in cyberspace. When you visit the new site, you’ll see that staff have done more than wash the windows and apply a new coat of paint. It’s a brand new site, with up-to-date information, and the latest resources presented in a floor plan that’s simple and easy to navigate.

The site also reflects TESOL’s graphic identity, the new logo, and other changes the association announced last year. And remember those surveys you filled out asking you about site navigation and content? The design takes your feedback into account, too.

Here are some highlights:

Homepage

The TESOL homepage has been completely redesigned with you in mind. There you’ll find loads of information:

Featured publications, events, resources, and hot topics

Easy-to-find links to membership information and renewal, the TESOL Community, and TESOL products and services

The latest TESOL news, blog posts, and the English Language Bulletin

If you need to dig deeper, just use the navigation buttons at the top of the page to take you where you want to go.

The search is more robust, too. Now you can browse by topic or you can use the search box to find just what you need. To visit the new bookstore, just go to the TESOL homepage and click on “Read & Publish.” That section also contains information on TESOL serial publications and information for authors.

TESOL Resource Center

Have a solid lesson plan or maybe a useful assessment you’d like to share? Drop by the TESOL Resource Center (TRC). With more than 200 resources and growing, the TRC has become an important stop for teachers who are looking for classroom materials, professional development, or just plain inspiration.
The new TRC is open to everyone. Anyone can now upload and search for activities, assessments, lesson plans, teaching tips, and TESOL white papers. Members also have access to convention plenary sessions, convention recorded sessions, and virtual seminars. Staff are uploading resources every day and working to improve functionality.

Career Center

Job seekers and recruiters, this section is for you. Yes, the TESOL Career Center still has job listings and information for employers. But it’s also a great place to get information on what you should consider when taking the next steps in your career.

And much, much more. After you register for TESOL 2013 in Dallas, take time to wander around the new homepage and discover what’s in store for you and your colleagues next year.

As you move from room to room in the new website, please bear with staff as we finish the detail work. You might notice some sawdust here and there, and maybe a patch of drywall or an unpainted doorjamb, but the structure is sound and all the pieces are in place. If you have trouble finding anything, you encounter a bad link, or you just want to share your feedback, please contact the Web content manager.

About Craig Triplett

I am a senior editor and web content and social media manager at TESOL International Association, an international nonprofit devoted to promoting excellence in English language teaching. TESOL has 12,000 members worldwide and more than 100 international affiliates. For more information about TESOL, go to www.tesol.org.